CHARLOTTE (Sept. 26, 2020) – The Charlotte Independence fell 3-1 to Memphis 901 FC at the Sportsplex at Matthews in its penultimate match of the 2020 USL Championship regular season.
Independence Head Coach Mike Jeffries made four changes from the lineup that started against Miami FC on Wednesday. Joel Johnson replaced Clay Dimick as the right-back, while Dane Kelly returned to the fold after completing his one-game suspension. Making his first start since August 12, Valentin Sabella replaced Rey Ortiz on the wing. The full XI: Brandon Miller, Joel Johnson, Duke Lacroix, Hugh Roberts, Aaron Maund, Jake Areman, Junior Etou, Enzo Martinez, Valentin Sabella, Dane Kelly, and Derek Gebhard.
The Independence took control of the match early as Kelly and Areman combined for several threatening chances in the first half. After a strong build up through the middle in the 18th minute, Areman sent a cross to Kelly in the middle of the box where he was nearly in on goal, but his header went just wide. Six minutes later, Kelly finally found the breakthrough. Areman again played a cross to the back post where Kelly ran into the path of the ball and headed it into the net for a 1-0 lead.
Undeterred, Memphis responded well and pulled level with the Jacks thanks to a thoughtful, curling finish by Jose Baxter in the 41st minute. Baxter beat a defender and hit a powerful right-footed shot from just outside the penalty box that flew straight to the left corner. Moments later, Memphis took the lead in the 43rd minute, with Cal Jennings finishing off a Memphis counterattack with a left-footed strike from inside the box. That’s how the teams would go into the half after a back and forth opening 45 minutes, with everything to play for in the second half.
The Jacks came out with the same dominance in possession but struggled to create chances against a compact, well-drilled Memphis defense. With the game calling out for a moment of brilliance, it unfortunately came from the visitors when Jennings found another opening in the 86th minute, cutting in from the left and curling a shot from outside the box past the outstretched arm of Brandon Miller in the Independence net. The Independence poured men forward but couldn’t find another goal, with Memphis 901 FC ending the match 3-1 winners.
Next on the Schedule: The Independence heads to Cary, N.C. on Wednesday to tackle Group G rival North Carolina FC for their final match of the 2020 Championship regular season. The game will be broadcast beginning at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
CHARLOTTE (Sept. 26, 2020) – The Charlotte Independence fell 3-1 to Memphis 901 FC at the Sportsplex at Matthews in its penultimate match of the 2020 USL Championship regular season.
Independence Head Coach Mike Jeffries made four changes from the lineup that started against Miami FC on Wednesday. Joel Johnson replaced Clay Dimick as the right-back, while Dane Kelly returned to the fold after completing his one-game suspension. Making his first start since August 12, Valentin Sabella replaced Rey Ortiz on the wing. The full XI: Brandon Miller, Joel Johnson, Duke Lacroix, Hugh Roberts, Aaron Maund, Jake Areman, Junior Etou, Enzo Martinez, Valentin Sabella, Dane Kelly, and Derek Gebhard.
The Independence took control of the match early as Kelly and Areman combined for several threatening chances in the first half. After a strong build up through the middle in the 18th minute, Areman sent a cross to Kelly in the middle of the box where he was nearly in on goal, but his header went just wide. Six minutes later, Kelly finally found the breakthrough. Areman again played a cross to the back post where Kelly ran into the path of the ball and headed it into the net for a 1-0 lead.
Undeterred, Memphis responded well and pulled level with the Jacks thanks to a thoughtful, curling finish by Jose Baxter in the 41st minute. Baxter beat a defender and hit a powerful right-footed shot from just outside the penalty box that flew straight to the left corner. Moments later, Memphis took the lead in the 43rd minute, with Cal Jennings finishing off a Memphis counterattack with a left-footed strike from inside the box. That’s how the teams would go into the half after a back and forth opening 45 minutes, with everything to play for in the second half.
The Jacks came out with the same dominance in possession but struggled to create chances against a compact, well-drilled Memphis defense. With the game calling out for a moment of brilliance, it unfortunately came from the visitors when Jennings found another opening in the 86th minute, cutting in from the left and curling a shot from outside the box past the outstretched arm of Brandon Miller in the Independence net. The Independence poured men forward but couldn’t find another goal, with Memphis 901 FC ending the match 3-1 winners.
Next on the Schedule: The Independence heads to Cary, N.C. on Wednesday to tackle Group G rival North Carolina FC for their final match of the 2020 Championship regular season. The game will be broadcast beginning at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
Match: Charlotte Independence vs. Memphis 901 FC
Date: September 26, 2020
Venue: Sportsplex at Matthews
Competition: USL Championship
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. ET
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
CLT 1 0 1
MEM 2 1 3
CLT – Dane Kelly (Jake Areman) 24th minute
MEM – Jose Baxter (Leston Paul) 41st minute
MEM – Cal Jennings (Leston Paul) 43rd minute
MEM – Cal Jennings 86th minute
LINEUPS:
CLT: 33-Brandon Miller, 3-Hugh Roberts, 18-Aaron Maund (7-Rey Ortiz, 78’), 14-Duke Lacroix, 22-Joel Johnson (17-Clay Dimick, 69'), 4-Jake Areman, 11-Valentin Sabella(15-Luke Haakenson, 46’), 21-Junior Etou(90-Christian Chaney, 86’), 27-Derek Gebhard(23-Guido Vadala, 69’), 9-Dane Kelly, 19-Enzo Martinez(captain)
Subs Not Used: 1-Austin Pack, 20-Oscar Ramsay
Head Coach: Mike Jeffries
MEM: 12-Jimmy Hague, 19- Rece Buckmaster, 5- Triston Hodge, 3- Zach Carroll, 7- Raul Gonzalez, 16- Tommy McCabe, 23- Leston Paul, 21- Duane Muckette(24-Jacob Hauser-Ramsey, 89’), 20- Jose Baxter(captain)( 29- Brandon Allen, 84’), 26- Cal Jennings, 9-Keanu Marsh-Brown(17-Michael Reed, 73’)
Head Coach: Ben Pirmann
Stats Summary CLT/ MEM:
Shots: 18 / 11
Shots on Goal: 9 / 6
Saves: 1 / 2
Corner Kicks: 9 / 0
Fouls: 12 / 9
Offside: 2 / 1
Misconduct Summary:
CLT – Hugh Roberts (caution) 12th minute
MEM – Leston Paul (caution) 20th minute
CLT – Junior Etou (caution) 68th minute
CLT – Clay Dimick (caution) 82nd minute
MEM – Tommy McCabe (caution) 89th minute
Officials:
Referee: Eric Tattersall
Assistant Referee: Justin Howard
Assistant Referee: Jeremy Smith
Fourth Official: Joshua Escobar
Match: Charlotte Independence vs. Memphis 901 FC
Date: September 26, 2020
Venue: Sportsplex at Matthews
Competition: USL Championship
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. ET
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
CLT 1 0 1
MEM 2 1 3
CLT – Dane Kelly (Jake Areman) 24th minute
MEM – Jose Baxter (Leston Paul) 41st minute
MEM – Cal Jennings (Leston Paul) 43rd minute
MEM – Cal Jennings 86th minute
LINEUPS:
CLT: 33-Brandon Miller, 3-Hugh Roberts, 18-Aaron Maund (7-Rey Ortiz, 78’), 14-Duke Lacroix, 22-Joel Johnson (17-Clay Dimick, 69′), 4-Jake Areman, 11-Valentin Sabella(15-Luke Haakenson, 46’), 21-Junior Etou(90-Christian Chaney, 86’), 27-Derek Gebhard(23-Guido Vadala, 69’), 9-Dane Kelly, 19-Enzo Martinez(captain)
Subs Not Used: 1-Austin Pack, 20-Oscar Ramsay
Head Coach: Mike Jeffries
MEM: 12-Jimmy Hague, 19- Rece Buckmaster, 5- Triston Hodge, 3- Zach Carroll, 7- Raul Gonzalez, 16- Tommy McCabe, 23- Leston Paul, 21- Duane Muckette(24-Jacob Hauser-Ramsey, 89’), 20- Jose Baxter(captain)( 29- Brandon Allen, 84’), 26- Cal Jennings, 9-Keanu Marsh-Brown(17-Michael Reed, 73’)
Head Coach: Ben Pirmann
Stats Summary CLT/ MEM:
Shots: 18 / 11
Shots on Goal: 9 / 6
Saves: 1 / 2
Corner Kicks: 9 / 0
Fouls: 12 / 9
Offside: 2 / 1
Misconduct Summary:
CLT – Hugh Roberts (caution) 12th minute
MEM – Leston Paul (caution) 20th minute
CLT – Junior Etou (caution) 68th minute
CLT – Clay Dimick (caution) 82nd minute
MEM – Tommy McCabe (caution) 89th minute
Officials:
Referee: Eric Tattersall
Assistant Referee: Justin Howard
Assistant Referee: Jeremy Smith
Fourth Official: Joshua Escobar
